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As it happenedended

Khabib vs Conor McGregor UFC 229 press conference: 'There will be blood on this canvas, October 6'

McGregor and Khabib taunted one anotther on stage in New York, with McGregor warning that there will be blood in the Octagon this October

Clark Mindock
New York
,Jack Watson
Thursday 20 September 2018 22:21 EDT
Comments
McGregor tells Khabib to smash him if he can

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Conor McGregor returns to the Octagon next month after last year’s defeat by Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring.

The Irishman goes head to head with the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov on 6 October, in what will be arguably the biggest match-up MMA has seen in its history.

The pair meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, home to where McGregor was stopped by Mayweather last August, with a stellar night of bouts scheduled for UFC 229.

With little under than three weeks to go until the big date, McGregor spoke alongside Khabib in their first press conference for the fight.

"Don't come at the king, don't ever come at the king," McGregor yelled at Khabib, who remained calm and quiet for the duration of the press conference.

McGregor spent much of the press conference animated and threatening Khabib.

"I am in a war state of mind," McGregor said at one point when asked how he had prepared himself. "That's how I'm getting ready. That's how I am getting ready".

The fight will be McGregor's first in two years and the first one since his arrest in New York over an incident in which he threw a metal dolly at a bus that Khabib was riding in Brooklyn.

McGregor said that he is thankful Khabib was a "coward" who did not get off of the bus then.

"I just thank the lord Jesus Christ that that man did not have the balls to step foot off that bus because trust me — or that the bus door did not open — because if that bus door had opened, I would not be here right now," McGregor said. "He would be in a box, and I would be in a cell".

The press conference is over now, but you can read along for the updates we sent along as the event was ongoing.


Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

"It has been a war zone in my camp. We have been preparing for war," McGregor said when asked how he has been preparing for the fight.

"Trust me mate, I'm ready for a long night," McGregor told Khabib, referring to the upcoming October fight.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:50

McGregor said he is going to "smoke" Khabib.

He also said that he "don't give a f*** what he is going to do" of Khabib on the day of the fight. He said he is going to pick him apart.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:51

McGregor's antics aren't bothering him, Khabib said.

McGregor continues to taunt Khabib, and said he is a child. He keeps getting up and trying to get Khabib to fight him now, instead of waiting until October.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:52

Strong words coming from McGregor.

"If you'd have gone after that bus you'd be dead now. You'd be dead and I'd be in prison," McGregor said to Khabib, referring to the incident where the fighter threw a metal dolly at a bus in New York.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:53

McGregor is bragging about how much money he has.

Khabib responds: "You come for money, I come for legacy".

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:56

McGregor said that he is set for life, and that he fights because he loves it.

"I'm here to enjoy this," he said. "I'm going to love putting you into misery, and stomping on your head".

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:58

McGregor is telling Khabib that if he pulls out from the fight then he will come to Russia and hurt him and his family.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 22:59

McGregor said that he is ready, and well coached.

"That's all I'm doing it for, because I f***** love it," McGregor said after saying he has no money needs, once again.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 23:00

Khabib just claimed he is the Floyd Mayweaher of the MMA.

McGregor says he is nothing.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 23:02

"I think I am going to make him tired, and later play with him," Khabib said of his strategy.

Meanwhile, McGregor has propped his feet on the table. He appears to have finished his glass of whiskey.

Kristin Hugo20 September 2018 23:02

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